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An UrbanDaddy Publication

The latest from Beach Week, our effort to send you to the shore in style this summer.

We’ve put together a reading list that’s more than just a few good books to stuff in your beach bag—although, there are those, too. But these reads are really about cultivating a properly beachy state of mind, from the printed word on actual flammable pages to the screen.

But, as gentlemen of letters, we wouldn’t dare overlook the printed word. As it turns out, there were plenty of great menswear-centric books that hit the shelves this year—from dictionaries on denim to proclamations of dandyism. And we’ve rounded up the best of the bunch.

It could be the family lake house, a weekend rental on the Cape or just a really summery corner of your sixth-floor walkup.

But to really make it feel right, you’ve got to have the right vibe—which, granted, is a little different if you’re summering near the sea versus a woodsy lake or river. So we’ve gone ahead and found some handsome appointments and setting-appropriate curios to properly equip your abode.

There’s nothing better than a good summer read—especially when it doesn’t require much actual reading.

You don’t need all of that flowery prose cluttering up your perfectly good beach weekend or scenic train ride upstate. What you need is a handsome book full of glossy pages you can breezily flip through at will. Whether it’s clever infographics with easily digestible tidbits, photos of interesting cultural phenomenon or just Paz de la Huerta wearing a lot of different wigs, there are plenty of new books out this season that make for ideal summer lounging companions.

Every Wednesday from here on out, we’re giving you a piece of our minds. Actually, more like five pieces. It’s a chance to get a deeper look into what makes the minds behind Kempt tick—you know, beyond the usual Internet handsomeness we’re serving up daily. So welcome to our most personal weekly feature: The Kempt Five.

Tapas with friends. Family-style Italian feasts. Surf-and-turf date nights. Late-night tacos. Bottomless mimosa power brunches. All of which have one thing in common: other people.

Which, one could argue, is the entire point of eating. Hell, entire books have been written on this subject. But those who fear the company of no one are missing out on a truly noble and gratifying experience.

Which is why every once in a blue supermoon, it’s a good idea to dine alone. Not because you have to, but because you can. And just because you’ve chosen to spend the night in your own good company doesn’t mean microwavable burritos on your couch—in fact, we believe it should prompt the opposite.

Table It: The 10 oversized books you should consider for yourself or anyone else you know who might already own a coffee table. [Highsnobiety]

Fast Backlash: An op-ed that makes the case against the new trend of fast fashion collaborations. [Business of Fashion]

Blitzkrieg Bop: Popular ladies’ e-commerce site Shopbop has set their sights on the menswear market. [Fashionista]

A Love Pentagon: To add to the ever-evolving bizarreness surrounding General Petraeus, Chuck Klosterman somehow found himself briefly caught in the eye of the storm—and lived to tell his story. [Grantland]

We’d like to take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to remind you that the printed word is still alive and well—and to congratulate one of our own. Shawn Donnelly, our resident sports guru (especially on the matter of European soccer) can now add “published author” to his already gleaming resume of “Kempt contributor” and “all-around stand-up guy,” among other things.

His newly released book, Go Get That Scholarship!, written with Nate Mast, the director of basketball operations at Southern Illinois University, is a guide for high schoolers looking for a shot at playing college ball (also: a good stocking stuffer for the Hoosiers fanatic in your life). Of the book’s many nuggets of wisdom, our favorite is one from Kansas coach Bill Self, who explains why he doesn’t want to scout a player on his best day, but rather on a day when the cards aren’t falling his way. It’s a test of character that any modern man can take to heart.